“Every word of God is flawless;(A)
    he is a shield(B) to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add(C) to his words,
    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.(D)
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown(E) you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’(F)
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.(G)

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
    or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;(H)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes(I)
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;(J)
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,(K)
    whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth(L) are swords
    and whose jaws are set with knives(M)
to devour(N) the poor(O) from the earth
    and the needy from among mankind.(P)

Read full chapter

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Read full chapter